'
'A week!' cried both the young men together.
'Yes, sir, a week was what he said. He left a note to be given to either
of you if you called. Here is the note, sir.'
Wentworth took the envelope handed to him and tore it open. The contents
ran thus:
'I have been suddenly called away to the North, and may be gone for a
week or ten days. I am sorry to be away at this particular juncture, but
as it is not likely that the men will have the offices finished before I
come back, no great harm will be done. Meanwhile I shall see several
gentlemen I have in my mind's eye, men that seldom come to London, who
will be of great service to us. If you think of anything to forward the
mica-mine, pray go on with it. You can send any letters for me to my
uncle, and I shall get them. As there is no hurry in the matter of time,
however, I should strongly advise that nothing be done until my return,
when we can all go at the business with a will.
'Yours truly,
'WILLIAM LONGWORTH.'
When Wentworth had finished reading this letter, the two young men looked
at each other.
'What do you make of that?' said Kenyon.
'I'm sure I do not know. In the first place, he is gone for a week.'
'Yes; that one thing is certain.'
'Well now, John, one of two things has to be done. We have either to
trust this Longworth, or we have to go on alone without him. Which is
it to be?'
'I am sure I don't know,' answered Kenyon.
'But, my dear fellow, we have come to a point when we must decide.
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